Tool handle



O United States Patent [1113,549,189

[72] In e Michael Alosi [56] References Cited N "gr" 5mm, 94108 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS @555 1968 2,147,373 2/1939 Laird 46/28 [45] Patented hi1970 3,265,401 8/1966 Spier 272/59 Primary Examiner-Evon C. BlunkAssistant Examiner-Alfred N. Goodman Attorney-Townsend and TownsendABSTRACT: A tool handle having an elongate handle body [541 TOOL gfiwith a cap at one end and a ferrule section at the opposite end, 4 Chims8 the ferrule section being attached to the working member of [52] U.S.Cl. 294/57, the tool, such as a spade or rake. The handle body istubular 46/28, 294/19 and includes a plurality of longitudinallyextending radial webs [51] Int. Cl B25g 1/10 spanning the interior crosssection of the tube for imparting [50] Field otSearch 294/24, maximumstrength to minimum of handle material. Provision is made for plugs tointerconnect the cap and ferrule section to the handle body.

'PATENIEUpEc22 19m 3,649,189

M/a/AEL A4051 INVENTOR.

TOOL HANDLE This invention relates to tool having working members suchas shovels, rakes and the like, and specifically discloses a lightweighttool handle formed in a novel geometric configuration for providingoptimum handle strength with a minimum of material.

Tool handles heretofore have been normally fabricated from woodenshafts. These wooden shafts, commonly of oak, birch, and the like, havethe disadvantage of warping, weathering and splintering when used forprolonged periods of time. Further, wooden tool handle shafts oftenshrink when exposed to inclement weather resulting in loosening of theirattached working member from the shaft.

Recently wooden tool handle material has become in extreme short supply.Such handle material, manufactured from only premium grades of wood, hasbeen in such demand that natural sources are no longer sufficient.

The present invention provides a lightweight, strong and durable toolhandle. This tool handle, manufactured from extruded fiber glass,plastic, aluminum or the like, does not warp, weather or splinter whenused. Further, the artificial material is not subject to shrinkage.Finally, the tool handle can be fabricated from readily availablematerials so that the limitations of natural supply are no longer ofconsideration to tool handle manufacture.

The disclosed tool handle includes an elongate handle body of improvedbending resistance with a cap and ferrule section that can be fitted tothe respective ends of the handle body by preformed plugs.

The handle body comprises an elongate cylinder of circular cross sectionextending substantially the entire length of the handle. A plurality ofradial webs each extending substantially the entire length of thecylinder reinforce the interior of the tubular handle. The webs arespaced angularly one from another by angles not greater than 120.Typically, these webs are integral with the cylinder sidewalls at theirrespective edges and integral with one another at the axis of thecylinder.

An advantage of the webs is that they prevent collapse of handle bodysidewalls, providing the tool handle with improved resistance tobending.

An additional advantage of this invention is that the ends of the handlebody define female apertures into which the cap and ferrule section ofthe handle can be readily inserted and bonded. The webs as extendingradially across the circular section of the handle body definepie-shaped voids at both ends of the handle. These pie-shaped voidsaccommodate complementary pie-shaped tines of male plugs attached to thecap and ferrule section of the tool handle. The apertures in combinationwith the pie-shapedrtines of the plugs form surfaces along which the capand ferrule section can be bonded to the handle body providing forconvenient tool handle assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bemore apparent after'referring to the following specification andattached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rake having the artificial tool handleof the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the handle body, cap and the ferrulesection of the tool handle, the central portion of the handle being cutaway;

FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the ferrule section ofthe tool handle illustrating specifically the protruding tines formingthe plug member for interconnection to the handle body;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a spade utilizing the handle of thisinvention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective of the ferrule section of the spade ofFIG. 4 showing a solid and curved shaft member for insertion interior ofa conventional shovel ferrule; and

FIG: 6 is a perspective of a spade handle adapted for insertion at-theopposite end of the handle body.

With reference to FIG. 1, a rake A is shown attached to a tool handle B.Handle B comprises a handle body C, having a cap D at one end and aferrule section E at the opposite end for accommodating the working endof the tool, here shown as a rake.

With reference to the exploded view of FIG. 2, handle body C is hereshown as an integrally formed member. Body C is tubular and consequentlyhas concentric inside boundary 17 and outside boundary 18. Interior ofbody C there is a plurality of radially extending webs 15, these websextending the entire length of the handle body.

Webs 15 reinforce the tubular handle against bending forces when thehandle is in use. The webs, .shown in FIG. 2 separated by equal angularintervals of 60 extend the entire length of the handle and prevent thecylinder sidewalls collapse. v

The tubular construction of main handle body C has several advantagesover wooden tool handles. First, this tubular handle is not solidthroughout and therefore can have a weight less than that of solidhandles. Secondly, hollow cylinder 14 has the bulk of its mass locatedwithin its tubular walls at a maximum distance from its central axis 20.At this maximum distance, the material of handle A is disposed at alocation where it can resist bending with maximum effect.

Handle body C is typically made of plastic or metal and is typicallyformed by extrusion. Materials recommended for the fabrication of thistool handle include fiber glass, aluminum and other lightweightstructural materials.

Webs 15 are here shown integral with cylinder 14 at the point theycontact the cylinder sidewalls. Similarly, the webs are shown integralwith one another at the cylinder axis 20.

Such construction is not a necessary element of this invention. The webscan be formed separately from the cylinder and thereafter inserted intoits interior. Moreover, each of the radially extending strips of thewebs can be formed separately and thereafter joined. Finally, the webs15 can be fabricated from a first material, such as plastic, and thetube fabricated from a second and different material such as aluminum.

Regarding cap I) and ferrule section E, each of these respective membershas affixed thereto a plug 30. Plug 30 is cylindrical in shape having adiameter slightly less than the inside diameter 17 of cylinder 14. Thisplug defines therethrough a plurality of radially'extending spacialintervals 32 (FIG. 3), which intervals are complementary to webs 15 ofhandle A. These respective intervals divide each plug 30 into 6pie-shaped tines 34 complementary to the pie-shaped voids 3 found at therespective handle ends.

Plug 30 is fitted interior of handle A by having its respectivepie-shaped tines 34 coated with a bonding agent and aligned with thepie-shaped voids 35 of the handle. Thereafter, the cap or ferrule to 35plug 30 is attached is inserted in handle body C by placing each one ofits tines 34 into a void 35.

To reinforce its attachment, ferrule section E is provided with anupward and tapering skirt about the base of its respective plug 30.Skirt 37 defines along its wall adjoining plug 30 a conical surface.Complementary to skirt 37, body C has a conical end 40 so as to fitsnugly between plug 30 and skirt 37. The conical surface of skirt 37 ofthe ferrule section and the conical end 40 of the handle, when joined,provide an additional surface for bonding the handle body C and ferruleE together.

To accommodate the rake illustrated in FIG. 1, ferrule section E isconcentrically bored opposite plug 30 with a bore 411. Bore 41 is thesurface along which ferrule section C attaches to the shank 42 of theworking member, here shown as a rake.

To facilitate the bond of the shank 42 of the working member D, bore 4!)may be configured longitudinally along the inside surface thereof with aplurality of ridges 43. Ridges 43 comprise grooves or notches out alongthe length of the bore which form surfaces to which bonding agentsfastening shank 41 into the ferrule section can adhere.

Bore 40 is tapped at its uppermost end with an aperture 45. Aperture 45communicates the interior of bore 41 with the exterior of the ferrulesection allowing any excess bonding agent to escape from the interior ofbore 40.

which a ferrule section'Cillustratedin FIG. 5,can be placed.

Likewise,it may be desired to replace cap D with a spade handle D havinga hand grip 52 configured therein. Such substitutions of the handle andmembers can be readily made provided the member includes a plug 30.

.Althoughthe foregoing invention has been described in somedetail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications can be practicedwithin the spiritof the inven'tion'as limited only by the scope of theappended claims. liclaim: f

LQAIOO] handle comprising in combination: a main handle body and aferrule section; said main handle body including a cylindrical member ofcircular cross section extending the length of said'handle body; atleast three planar webs extending radially the length of said cylinderfrom the axis of said cylinder to the sidewalls thereof; each of saidwebs having equal angular intervals about the axis of said cylinder lessthan 120 whereby the outside surfaces of said webs in combinau'on withthe inside periphery of said cylinder wall defines a plurality ofpie-shaped voids at both ends of said handle; said ferrule sectionhaving means for connecting the working member of said toolafl ixed toone end and a plug" section at the opposite end; for telescopicallyengaging said pie-shaped voids atone of said handle ends; said plugsection defining a plurality of pieshaped tines extending outwardly fromsaid ferrule section less tharithe length of said handle; each of .saidtines separated by I radially extending spatial intervals complementaryto the in said handle.

4. tervals between said webs whereby saidtines of said plug may betelescopically engaged interior of said pie-shaped voids of 2. A toolaccording to claim 1 wherein: said main handle body has a cap afiixed tothe opposite end; said cap having a plug section defining a plurality"of pie-shaped tines extending outwardly from said ferrule sectionlessitha'n the length of said handle. I I

3. A tool according to claim l and wherein: said ferrule sec-' 'tion hasa skirt defining a conicalsurface extending upwardly about the base ofsaid plug; and said rnain handle body has a conical end forcomplementary engagement interior-of ,said

conical surface of said skirt.

4. A coupling for interconnecting portionsof a tool handle comprising: amain handle. body defining a female plug member; said female plug memberdefining a cylindrical aperture intersected by a plurality of radially.and longitudinally extending webs; a ferrule section having a plugprotrudingv therefrom; said plug having a diameter less than thediameter of the cylindrical female plug member of said handle andfurther defining a plurality of radially and longitudinally extendingvoidscomplementary to said webs whereby said plug is divided into aplurality of pie-shapedrtines telescopicallyengagement interior of saidhandle plug member; said main handle body having a conical sectionadjoining said defined cylindrical aperture; said ferrule sectionincluding a skirt extending from the base of said plug; said skirthaving a complementary conical surface tapering upwardly and outwardlyfrom said plug for complementary engagement with the taper of said mainhandle body. r

